Description of the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician trade
“Heavy Duty Equipment Technician” is this trade’s official Red Seal occupational title approved by the CCDA.
Heavy duty equipment technicians diagnose, repair, adjust, calibrate, rebuild, service, and test mobile and stationary heavy duty equipment.
Heavy duty equipment technicians are employed by companies in many sectors and services: heavy duty equipment dealerships, rental and service companies, construction contractors, road building, forestry companies, mining companies, railroads, landscaping companies, public recreational areas, and government departments that service and repair their own equipment. Many heavy duty equipment technicians have experience on a wide variety of equipment types and manufacturers.
Most heavy equipment in Canada is diesel-powered. However, heavy duty equipment technicians are increasingly working with alternative prime movers such as hybrid and electric-powered equipment.
Heavy duty equipment technicians work in a full range of environmental conditions: from shop environments to remote sites where inclement weather can affect the work. Heavy duty equipment technicians perform a lot of field service work, particularly in outdoor work environments. Good physical condition and agility are important because the work often requires considerable standing, bending, crawling, lifting, climbing, pulling and reaching.
Due to the size and complexity of the equipment, safety is of prime importance. Technicians must be conscious of the impact on people, equipment, work area and environment when performing their work. There is risk of injury when working with heavy equipment.
Some important attributes of a heavy duty equipment technician are: mechanical, mathematical and technical aptitude, effective communication, independence, teamwork, and the ability to plan and work sequentially. Heavy duty equipment technicians need to be able to organize multiple jobs at the same time and adapt to various workload and supply demands as well as changing priorities.
This standard recognizes similarities or overlaps in the work of other tradespersons, such as automotive service technicians, agricultural equipment technicians, truck and transport technicians, transport trailer technicians, parts technicians and industrial mechanics (millwrights).